Help with benefits

pixie · Help with benefits

If anyone ever needs any advice about benefits they can claim or where to go to get advice please ask here.

I have a lot of the info to hand which has helped us over the years to ensure we get the right amounts for the kids and of course for us as carers.

The powers that be will often not know and I have had to inform them on several occasions about various premiums, housing costs etc. Once they know the relevent laws they will act to put the benefit/premium into place.

welshie

opps i asked under a different heading, i claim for carers for my son but have arthritis do you know if i can claim for myself and still recieve the carers benefit?>

pixie

I have my trusty book here so I'll see what I can find out for you.

Speak to you soon.

Sleep well if you can.

welshie

thank you pixie and you will goodnight x

pixie

Hi Welshie.
You can claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and not lose your Carers Allowance (CA).

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Disab...ople/FinancialSupport/DG_10011731

You cannot be in receipt of Incapacity Benefit (IB) as well as CA though so not much point in applying for that really.

DLA is quite difficult to get so you need all the support you can get from your GP, consultant etc.

You can claim online now so it might be worth having a look here.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/eservice/

If you need help with it I am happy to make suggestions etc. via pm as that will be more private.

No offence intended to anyone with that statement, it's just that anyone can read this forum and not just members.

I hope that's helpful Welshie but let me know if there is something else you could do with finding out about. It's a passport benefit so it can lead to other benefits, which is where it may get a bit heavy.

welshie

not sure if i will qualify for disability just yet was going to try for incapacity but dont want to lose my carers so will have to wait for appointment when i eventual get one at the hospital and decide from there.
Thanks for the help
Rachel x

pixie

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news Rachel. IB is an "overlap" benefit. You can claim it but your CA will then stop.

You don't need to have a diagnoses (DX) to apply for DLA as it's the way your disability affects you that matters rather than the disability itself.

My kids had no DX until they were 21, 14 and 11 respectively but they all qualified for DLA.

Sorry the news wasn't better but let me know if you need any more info at any time about benefits. If I don't know or can't find out I will direct you somewhere to get more info.

xx

welshie

hi i know that you don'tneed a diagnois as neither of my children had one when i claimed for them.Trouble is i doubt i'l manage to get anything just yet although i struggle some days i don't think it,s enough to qualify
Thanls for your help x
RAchel

pixie

I know what you mean, I'm in the same boat with my health. Not Arthitis though but an autoimmune disease that is similar to Arthitis plus Fibro.

Some of the time I'm on steriods as well as other meds but they just don't look favourably on the fibro so it's difficult to get DLA.

Maybe you could see a welfare rights worker near to you for advice as to your chances of getting it now rather than having to wait. xx